Three Questions

Qin Mo said sincerely, "Father, you see clearly. Your child did not mean to hide it.

These Mangekyo Sharingan... only truly awakened just now, when I met Father's gaze."

"What?" Tajima's brows drew tight. "How is that possible?"

"Father, do you still remember that three days ago, when the Kaguya Clan sent the secret letter, I said the Senju Clan was preparing to sacrifice the Uzumaki Clan?"

Qin Mo raised his head, a flicker of pain passing through his eyes. "When I saw that intelligence, and thought of the betrayal the Uzumaki Clan might suffer,

and thought of the crisis we Uchiha might face... my Sharingan had already shown signs of evolving."

The council hall fell silent. Everyone held their breath as they listened to his explanation.

"And just now," Qin Mo continued, "when Father tested me with the Mangekyo, deep within my heart, that worry for the clan's future, that anxiety over the state of the ninja world,

and... my longing for Father's approval finally pushed my Sharingan through its final transformation."

Uchiha Tajima's gaze turned deep. "So your Mangekyo awakened while you were worrying about the clan's future?"

"Exactly." Qin Mo nodded firmly. "My Mangekyo ability is also related to foreseeing the future.

Though it is still very blurry, I truly did see... some dangerous omens."

Tajima's eyes suddenly sharpened. "What did you see?"

"I saw... the destruction of the Uchiha Clan. But not defeat at the hands of the Senju Clan..." Qin Mo slowly laid it out.

"It was a supreme powerhouse with terrifying strength capable of crushing the entire ninja world.

Before him, even if every ninja in the ninja world gathered their strength, they could not withstand a casual strike from him."

The air in the council hall seemed to freeze, and even the sound of breathing could be heard clearly.

Uchiha Tajima's hand unconsciously tightened around the armrest of his chair. "Are you certain this was not an illusion?"

"Absolutely certain." Qin Mo's voice carried a gravity like never before.

"When did such a powerhouse appear in the ninja world?" the great elder asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Where is this person now?" the fourth elder pressed.

"I don't know either." Qin Mo gave a bitter laugh. "I only know that he is currently sleeping somewhere. Perhaps he will wake in three to five years, or perhaps he will wake immediately."

"Why would he definitely target us Uchiha?" the second elder asked in confusion.

"I only saw a certain blurry fragment, and I can't know the reasons behind it," Qin Mo said. "That is why I am so eager to raise the clan's strength."

Tajima was silent for a long time before slowly speaking. "Pass down my order! Send word to the Senju Clan immediately.

Arrange negotiations at the northeastern border in three days. When the time comes, the three of you will attend as the Uchiha's representatives."

"Yes!"

Madara, Izuna, and Qin Mo cupped their hands, then withdrew.

After the three of them had left,

the great elder spoke first. "Clan head, the strength and foresight Young Master Mo has shown already far surpass those of his peers.

I believe we should immediately establish him as the young clan head."

The second elder nodded in agreement. "Yes, Young Master Madara is also good, but whether in strength or strategy, he is clearly inferior to Young Master Mo.

Now the situation in the ninja world is complicated, and there is also an unknown powerful enemy. We need a leader who can lead the clan toward glory."

The third elder, however, raised a different opinion. "Young Master Mo is not the eldest legitimate son, after all. If he becomes the young clan head, I fear it will be hard to convince the masses."

"Third brother, those words are wrong," the fourth elder retorted. "Young Master Mo's Mangekyo Sharingan is difficult even for the clan head to withstand. With such strength, who would dare refuse to accept him? What's more, he also has the ability to foresee the future..."

The fifth elder muttered, "I suggest we observe for a while first. Let us see Young Master Mo's performance in the negotiations before making a decision."

Uchiha Tajima had been listening silently to everyone's debate. Finally, he raised his hand, signaling for silence.

"I understand what all of you elders mean." Uchiha Tajima said in a deep voice, "But establishing the young clan head is a matter of great importance. It cannot be decided hastily.

After this negotiation with the Senju is over, we will convene a clan meeting and formally discuss it."

The great elder still wanted to persuade him. "But clan head..."

"This matter is settled." Uchiha Tajima made the final decision.

Seeing this, the elders could only temporarily set aside the topic of the young clan head and turn to discussing other important matters.

Night was black as ink. In the dense forest on the back mountain of the Uchiha clan grounds, three figures appeared and vanished under the moonlight.

Madara stopped and turned, staring straight into Qin Mo's eyes. "Mo, there are no outsiders now. Tell us, of those things you said in the council hall today, how much was true and how much was false?"

Izuna also fixed his eyes on Qin Mo. "Especially about your Mangekyo Sharingan... how exactly did it awaken?"

Qin Mo was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled. "Big brother, second brother, why do you think I would lie to Father?"

Madara's Sharingan opened quietly. "Then look into my eyes and say it again."

Izuna also opened his Sharingan, staring at Qin Mo.

Two pairs of Sharingan reflected each other in the darkness, and a tense atmosphere filled the air.

Facing the gaze of two pairs of Sharingan, the corners of Qin Mo's mouth curved into a meaningful smile.

Not only did he not avoid them, he took the initiative to meet his two elder brothers' eyes.

"Big brother, second brother..." Qin Mo's voice suddenly became low and enticing. "Instead of getting tangled up in these irrelevant questions, why not ask yourselves—do you also want to obtain the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan?"

Madara's pupils abruptly contracted, and Izuna's breath also caught.

"You... have a way?" Izuna's voice carried a suppressed longing.

Madara suddenly reached out and pressed a hand on Izuna's shoulder.

"Put the matter of power aside for now," Madara said solemnly. "Mo, I only ask you one question. Are you... still the third brother who wants to change the Uchiha's fate?"

The night wind suddenly stilled, and the shadows of the trees froze between the three of them.

Qin Mo's expression suddenly turned unusually lonely, and that usual confident smile at the corner of his mouth vanished.

"Big brother..." Qin Mo's voice was so soft it was almost scattered by the night wind. "So in your heart, I am already not worth trusting?

Is the blood flowing in my body not the blood of the Uchiha Clan?

Should I be questioned at every turn just because I do something for the clansmen?"

Qin Mo's three questions struck straight at Madara and Izuna's hearts.

They had indeed ignored Qin Mo's feelings.

But before the two of them could open their mouths to explain, Qin Mo had already turned around.

"When I was three, I had a high fever and almost died. It was you, big brother, who carried me on your back for three days and three nights, going a thousand li away to seek out a reclusive old physician. Only then was I able to live."

With his back to the two of them, Qin Mo's voice carried a suppressed sob. "When I was four, the Senju Clan launched a sneak attack on our clan grounds. It was you, second brother, who blocked a fatal kunai for me."

Izuna's hand unconsciously clenched, and Madara's expression became complicated.

"I thought..." Qin Mo suddenly turned around. Under the moonlight, two lines of clear tears slid down his cheeks. "In this world, even if others did not understand me, at least you would believe me..."

Madara and Izuna had never seen this younger brother, who was always calm and composed, reveal such a fragile side.